Column by Kavita Jhaveri-Patel

After all the Fourth of July weekend BBQs, which were fabulous and fun of course, I realized I probably should have written this post for you before they happened. However, if your summer schedule looks anything like mine there are many more to come. If you’re still feeling those burger buns sinking to your buns, take in these three simple tips to conquer the barbecue weight gain.

Just when you thought it was safe, you had an eating regimen down, you thought all the junk food was finally out of sight, and then the summer barbecue invitations hit. Beer, chips, burgers and more don’t seem to be very forgiving. I know what you’re thinking; just get a salad. But soon after that salad the chips start calling your name. Don’t even get me started on having just one chip that never works unless there’s only one left.

Here are three simple tips & a bonus to lose weight by accident while at the bbq:

1. Keep hydrated: Having beer or a glass of wine at a bbq is definitely a lot of fun, but when you mix in dash of scorching hot sun, you’re asking for trouble. Not only will you get tired faster, but you will be parched and dehydrated. So, make sure after every one beer or glass of wine you take down a glass of water. You can even supplement the water with some refreshing coconut water. Coconut water has natural electrolytes to keep you feeling fresh and active all day.
2. Eat less meat, more veggies: Too many times all I see on the grill is meat and the only veggies are pale lettuce and tomatoes. Some grilled veggies should be crispy; Try asparagus, zucchini, peppers or your favorites. You can also cook up some veggie burgers as a meat substitute.
3. Skip the sugary ice cream/popsicles: All that sugary ice cream may even make you thirsty potentially forcing you to go for a beer. All around lose lose.  But a simple replacement is watermelon. It is juicy and sugary and the fiber helps nullify the effects of the sugar.

Bonus: Get moving! Bring a frisbee or if you don’t have anything, take a walk with a friend and enjoy nature. If you have kids play with them, get involved, it will also help wear them out for later. When you’re moving around, you won’t be that girl lingering by the guacamole.

I hope these tips help you feel more satisfied and should zap your normal barbeque food coma.

Body confidence expert and health and lifestyle speaker Kavita Jhaveri-Patel is a Weight-Loss Coach committed to helping women find their paths to losing weight and keeping it off by taking small steps to lead a healthier, thinner and more energetic life. She has been featured in Time Out New York, Healthy Style NY, and has been mentioned on FoxLive News. Receive her free report 7 Mistakes Most Women Make When Trying to Lose Weight and How to Avoid Them by clicking here.

What’s worse… breaking laws or breaking out? For this aspiring ESQ, it’s debatable.

Dear Michelle,

Here is my dilemma… The added stress, increased caffeine, and long hours of studying for the bar exam next week are taking a toll on my skin (not to mention the subconscious picking I catch myself doing!!). My skin seems extra dry, my pores seem larger than usual, and my chin is breaking out!! Do you have any easy at home cures I can employ to make this situation any better?? HELP!!

Love,

Dry Delinquent (Jamie Randall)

I decided to send this question to my newest employee in the Social Media department at Spa Week (she started Monday) to bounce some ideas around. She comes from a spa background and happens to know a thing or seven. Expecting a few bullet points back, she blew my mind and came back with the full blown jurisdiction you see below. Readers, it is my pleasure to introduce you to… your newest Spa Week Daily blogger crush… Stephanie Cavataro!

Dear Dry Delinquent,

Spa Week Daily holds you in contempt–Your skin is out of order!

You have neglected trips to the spa to make time for case studies. The proof- Exhibit A: your dry and neglected skin. It is the recommendation of the Spa Week Daily court that you remain remanded to your study-sanctuary and complete the following homemade beauty remedies:

One: Sit on your hands! Picking and scratching blemishes will cause scars—not to mention infections from bacteria transferred from hand-to-face. To fight infection, reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process try applying Manuka Honey as a mask 1-2 times per week. Manuka Honey is a great organic way to promote new cell turn over to leave skin supple and glowing.

Two: For dry patches, apply Safflower Oil Before bed. Dr. Oz says it has the same hydrating qualities as olive oil – but you won’t smell like a salad all night. Avoid petrochemicals (like baby/mineral oil or Vaseline) on the face. These man-made products can clog pores. To exfoliate rough spots, mix 1 part Safflower Oil and 2 parts regular sugar and apply as a homemade scrub to get rid of dull skin and flakes.

Three: Fight dry skin from the inside out. Swap out a caffeinated, sugary soda for Coconut Water. It’s full of electrolytes and potassium (twice the amount of a banana).  Coconut Water fights bloating brought on by late night study binges. It helps rehydrate faster than plain water while giving you natural, organic energy.

You can get Safflower Oil, Manuka Honey and Coconut Water at grocery stores like Whole Foods, without breaking the bank or straying too far away from your text books.

Case dismissed.

Best bar wishes,

Stephanie (and Michelle)

Guest contributor: Kavita Jhaveri-Patel

Are you drinking Venti coffees just to make it through the morning, counting down until May 3rd for your Trenta sized fix? Are you buying shots of 5 hour energy or  resorting to Red Bull around 3 pm to avoid nodding off at your desk?

Join the millions of other people who struggle to make it through the day. Good news is there are solutions to feeling tired all the time and it doesn’t involve unnatural caffeine boosts.

I am revealing  three totally easy ways to give yourself a natural energy boost, while providing your body with crucial vitamins and minerals. This is where the losing weight by accident comes in.

Low energy is your metabolism’s way of asking for a pick me up, and when you feed it the right kinds of foods, guess what happens, increased metabolism baby!

1. Wheatgrass Shot – it gives you INSTANT results. It is subtle but extremely potent. After you take a wheatgrass shot, which you can find at any Jamba Juice, Whole Foods, or juicing place, you will suddenly find yourself more focused, multi tasking effectively, and ready to run miles.

2. Coconut Water – it contains lots of natural electrolytes. Low energy is a sign of potential dehydration, so hydrating your body will totally change your energy levels. You will quickly feel the needed relief for dry mouth with a sip of some coco water.

3. Brown Rice – it has complex carbs that give you the energy you need. Add some to your salad, soup, or have it as a small side for lunch, and you will have lasting energy throughout the day. Your body needs fiber and starch to push you in the right direction.

Incorporating these foods regularly will give you sustainable energy. You will find yourself jumping out of bed every morning, and not because you are late for work, but because you have the energy to do it.

Body confidence expert and health and lifestyle speaker Kavita Jhaveri-Patel is a board-certified Holistic Health Coach, and a board certified member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). She studied with nutrition and health experts, such as Dr. Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra, as a graduate of the advanced training program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has been featured in Time Out New York, Healthy Style NY, and has been mentioned on FoxLive News. Receive her free report 7 Mistakes Most Women Make When Trying to Lose Weight and How to Avoid Them by clicking here.

Is it just us, or have you, too, wondered how Victoria Beckham gets that perfectly shiny hair, glowing skin and tight physique all while running a household of 3 energetic boys and keeping her hot hubby David along for the ride all these years? There’s something about Victoria. When she steps on a red carpet she commands attention. She’s managed to transition into a successful designer, with her sophisticated dresses becoming fast faves of celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum. A zig a zig aaah!

In case you missed last night’s Victoria’s Secret fashion show, Victoria Beckham divulged all of her quietly kept beauty secrets in the December issue of Tatler Magazine, on stands tomorrow. V-Becks credits her beauty to good conditioner, days spent at the spa getting oxygen facials and thai massages, and Chanel nail polish.

Hair Hero

Miracle Moisturizer

"Dr Lancer is the best dermatologist in Beverly Hills. I use his Repair AM/PM Nourishment and I also go to his clinic for oxygen facials."

Workout that Works

"Running every day."

Lipstick

"Stila's Lip Polish in Gleam is an old favorite and recently I've been trying Burberry's Lip Glow in Nutmeg, which is a pretty, neutral pink. If I could design a beauty product, it would be the perfect nude lip gloss."

Nail polish

"I like Chanel, as it always does forward-thinking colors."

Body Treat

"I try to keep it simple with Nivea Body Lotion and I love a Thai massage."

Secret Obsession

"To stay hydrated I drink lots of coconut water."

And we love it too—check out these ZICO cocktail recipes!

Images Courtesy of out.com, energyarts.co.za, cnbc.com, ellecanada.com,mirror.co.uk

Picture yourself on a quiet beach in the tropics. Toes in the sand, waves gently caressing the shoreline just feet from your chair, orange sun hanging in the clear blue afternoon sky. Theres a drink in your hand–it’s a coconut full of fresh, cold milky coconut water, and it was fetched and carved by one of the island natives from the palm tree located just outside your beach front estate.

Now picture you were in this blissful paradise setting every day, for 6 months straight… only without the whole tropical paradise scenario. The next best thing: A 6 month supply of ZICO pure premium coconut water, fresh from your refrigerator! The refreshing taste will bring your mind, if not your body, to a place a paradise as wholesome as the beverage in your hand.

WIN IT:

A 6-month supply of ZICO pure premium coconut water.

For more than 4,000 years, coconut water has been revered as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration. In times of famine and war, coconut water has been used as an intravenous fluid and saved many lives. It’s the only natural substance that can be safely injected into the human blood stream. Now modern science has validated its effectiveness, especially as a natural sports drink.

ZICO contains the five essential electrolytes that gives your body everything it needs to stay hydrated and perform at your best. One ZICO has more potassium than a banana – 15 times more than most sports drinks – to prevent cramping. Drink ZICO before or during a workout for the natural energy you need for optimal performance. After a workout, ZICO replenishes and re-hydrates you to speed recovery.

HAPPY HOUR INSPIRATION:

This week we’re celebrating Happy Hour at the Spa, so we asked a couple mixologists what kind of cocktails they’d make with ZICO. After all, if you win, you’re going to need some options.

Dee from CocktailDeeva.com‘s ZICO cocktail of choice, and how to prepare:

Fresh Blue Breeze Colada

1 1/2 oz Organic Vodka
2oz naturally sweetened Blueberry Juice
2oz ZICO Natural Coconut Water
1oz fresh squeezed orange juice
1 pineapple slice
fresh mint
Muddle together pineapple slice, mint and vodka until pineapple is well mashed. Add all
ingredients to shaker and shake well with ice. Strain and serve over ice in a tall glass.
This drink can also be blended with ice if preferred. Garnish with a mint sprig or orange
slice and enjoy.

Tamara of ThePerfectMixx.com gave 2 interesting recipes:

Coconut Cubed

ZICO Coconut Water Ice Cubes (prepare in advance)
2oz Bacardi Gold Rum
1oz Pineapple Juice
Garnish with a lemon

Coco-Citrus Punch

4oz ZICO Coconut Water
2oz Absolut Citron Vodka
1oz Pineapple Juice
1oz Orange Juice
1oz Peach Schnapps
Splash of grenadine
Garnish with Limes and Cherries

HOW TO ENTER:

What is your favorite ingredient that you can find both in a cocktail AND in a spa treatment? Give an example of the cocktail and the spa treatment.

Write it in the comments below.

Winner will be chosen based upon how delicious both your cocktail and your spa treatment sound. Note: Your cocktail does not need to include ZICO coconut water. Be creative! Must be based on a real ingredient that works, but you can make up the details of your cocktail/spa treatment. Feel free to use our Happy Hour Spa Treatment Guide for inspiration.

If you’re on Twitter, tweet: I entered to win a 6 month supply of @zicococowater from @SPAWEEK –> http://ow.ly/2afLO

Enter by Sunday, July 18th, 11:59 EDT. Please link your comment to a valid email address.Must be a US Resident within the 48 states to win.

Official Rules